THE equivalent population of Easterhouse in Glasgow could be experiencing chronic loneliness, campaigners have warned.

Of the 15,000 older people in the city, it is estimated that 10% can go days or weeks without having any contact with anyone.

One elderly man, who lives in Drygate high flats, said it was common to go three or four weeks without seeing anyone.

The statistics were revealed at Glasgow's first ever loneliness conference, which was opened by Scotland's national poet, Jackie Kay.

Research by the National Campaign to end loneliness found 9 in 10 people in Glasgow believe loneliness in older age is now ‘more likely than ever’.

Nine in ten older Glaswegians believe that it is hard for older people to admit they are lonely because they don’t want to be a burden

However 7 in 10 people in the city say they want to help address the loneliness epidemic

Other speakers included Brian Sloan, Chief Executive of Age Scotland and Tressa Burke, Chief Executive of Glasgow Disability Alliance.

The Summit marked the launch of the Campaign to End Loneliness in Glasgow, which will work with local businesses, individuals and organisations to tackle the problem.

Anne Callaghan, the Campaign to End Loneliness’ Campaign Manager for Scotland, said: “We are delighted to launch the Campaign to End Loneliness in Glasgow. Glasgow is a world-leading friendly city and renowned for its big heart.

"We welcome refugees and we strive to be a dementia- friendly city. Now it’s time for us to become a world-leader in tackling loneliness.

“Loneliness is an epidemic. There 1.2 million chronically lonely older people in the UK, and the health impacts are devastating; it is as bad for you as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Most worrying, however, is the popular view that loneliness in older age is more likely than ever – that loneliness is inevitable. We’re here to challenge that.

“Loneliness is older age is not inevitable if we all play our part - from local and national government, civil society and businesses. There is some great outreach work to support older people in Glasgow, but now we need a strategic and coordinated approach to combat loneliness.

“It will be challenging; the stigma of loneliness means that 9 in 10 older people in Glasgow fear admitting to being lonely in case they are seen as a burden.

"We want to break down this stigma. The need for friendship and support does not reduce with age. Whether we’re 24 or 84, we all need connections that matter. It’s time for us to all take action and connect with the thousands of lonely older people in our communities. Together, we can end loneliness.”

Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “Loneliness can have a potentially devastating impact on our daily lives, health and wellbeing. Feelings of loneliness are linked with poor health, including high blood pressure, weakened immune system, and an increased risk of developing dementia.

“We have been working with various agencies and local groups to tackle this. The role of the Summit is to bring those voices together to launch the Campaign to End Loneliness in Glasgow, and determine the best way forward for us to achieve this together.”

Older people in Glasgow describe the effects of loneliness www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn8fUqUQLek&t=1s

COMMUNITY groups in Glasgow are rallying to combat the problem.

The Campaign to End Loneliness released a survey last week revealing that two thirds of Glaswegians feel loneliness.

It found that isolation is worse for your health than smoking 15 cigarettes a day and obesity.

Community centres such as the Nan McKay Memorial Community Hall in Pollokshields hope to tackle the feeling of isolation by integrating people into a group of like-minded people from all backgrounds.

The centre is managed by Bill Lawns, 56. He welcomes hundreds of people through the centre’s doors.

Members like Helen Small, 67, give high praise to Bill and his 50 volunteers for the health benefits she has experienced since walking joining:

“When I came here I was in a wheelchair and I’ve gradually got out of it," she said.

"Now I’m walking with crutches. I got to the stage where I was nearly housebound for a while. This got me out and I am really grateful for the hall, really grateful.”

The centre provides these people with a sense of community and togetherness to help with their feeling of loneliness.

Lesley Sweeney, 74, says that each member of the hall looks after each other.

She said: “If someone who is here regularly and hasn’t turned up, we’ve got everyone’s contact numbers.

"If you’ve got a problem, say with your rent, Bill will signpost you. If they think someone is not looking too well then they’ll help out with that too.”

The community spirit is also felt by Mary Cameron, 79 . She said: "Coming in and getting involved in the classes saves me sitting in the house staring at the four walls.

"I’m down four times a week and everybody makes you welcome and you can have a good laugh.”

This is something Helen feels is a great help to those who have lost a partner.

She added: “If you’re on your own, knowing that someone is there you can call if you need is a big, big thing. Everybody is welcome here, it doesn’t matter who they are or what they are, they’re all welcome here.”

The sense of community spirit bred in the centre is something Helen recognises that helped her cope with the death of her husband Jimmy near the end of 2016.

She said: “He was my full-time carer but Lesley wouldn’t let me stay in the house. She’d be there saying; ‘come on, get out!’ This place kept me going too.

“If this wasn’t here there would be a lot more deaths here with not knowing anybody or seeing anybody so it’s a great wee place.”

Centre manager Bill says it is important to not make any presumptions about anyone who is referred to the services at the hall.

He explained: “For us it doesn’t matter how they get to us but hopefully when people come to us they find someone in the 35 groups we have and find an interest or something that sparks their own interests. They are made to feel welcome and maybe then we can find out if they are lonely.”

The 35 classes ran by the centre gives people who join as a member a real opportunity to find something they love doing, from cooking, arts and crafts or computing skills with some taking up tasks they’ve never tried in their lives.

Bill added: "The cookery class for a long time was predominantly women, but today we had seven men and two women.

"These men are usually people who have lost a partner who was the one who did the cooking or perhaps they come in for something else and see the class and give it a try.”

Podiatry care is just one of the many services provided by the centre through the work of volunteers and includes classes aimed at getting members active through different exercise classes.

Along with the sense of community, Bill has seen an upturn in the health of a great number of the elderly people in the centre with one woman telling him her doctor said she no longer looked like a ‘grey woman’ after she was referred to the hall and took part in exercise classes.

Brian Sloan, Chief Executive of Age Scotland, considers the figures from the Campaign to End Loneliness ‘thought-provoking’ and ‘quite sad’, but recognises the great work in communities around Glasgow to tackle the problem and the willingness of people to help:

He said: “We get a feeling that people in our community are becoming aware of this and try and help. We all know an older neighbour and little things like having a cup of tea, taking the time to chat, popping round on your way to the supermarket and asking if you can get them anything makes a huge difference.

“Family members would be affronted to find out that someone in their family is lonely, but they don’t want to be a burden, but making them feel comfort is a real skill.”

Anyone who is suffering from feelings of loneliness or any other problems is encouraged to call Age Scotland for a chat on their Freephone number 0800 1244 222.